This special issue highlights work from attendees at SANZMAG-1, a workshop on molecular magnetism which drew together researchers from Australia and New Zealand.

Lanthanoid-based single-molecule magnets (Ln-SMMs) hold clear promise for the achievement of large energy barriers to magnetisation reversal. The structural and electronic versatility of polyoxometalates renders them a useful class of supporting ligands for Ln-SMMs. This review discusses Ln-SMMs with polyoxometalate ligands, focusing on structure, magnetic properties, and magnetostructural correlations.

Coordination polymers with embedded octahedral iron(ii) spin crossover sites are an important class of electronic switching material. This review focuses specifically on two-dimensional spin crossover polymers of the spin crossover framework (SCOF) and Hofmann-types.

A family of 2D Hofmann-type polymeric materials containing the photoactive ligands 3- and 4-phenylazo-pyridine are presented. They each show thermal and light-induced spin crossover behaviours.

A novel ligand, N-(8-quinolyl)-5-tert-butylsalicylaldimine (Hqsal-5-tBu) is prepared and a series of Fe^III complexes, [Fe^III(qsal-5-tBu)₂]⁺ studied. Strong structural distortions caused by the ligand result in the complexes becoming trapped in the high spin state.

The detailed structural and magnetic properties of a family of {Cr^III₂Dy^III₂}–alcoholamine cluster complexes reveal single molecule magnetism properties with strongly coercive hysteresis loops at temperatures up to 3.5 K, the strong intra-cluster magnetic exchange being responsible for these features.

Three thiacalixarene (LH₄) metal complexes, [Fe₃O(L)₂]·1.3CH₂Cl₂·2H₂O·5C₃H₇NO (1), [Cu₄(L)₂]·1.5CH₂Cl₂·C₃H₇NO (2), and [(μ-H₂O)Eu₂(LH)₂(C₃H₇NO)₄]·2CH₃CN·1.5C₃H₇NO (3) have been prepared for detailed magnetic studies. These complexes were found to exhibit interesting exchange coupling that is the direct result of the molecular features.

To use spin-crossover as a reporter for chemical sensing, it is important to understand how the local environment influences the complex’s spin state. The Fe^II pyridyl–imidazoline complexes described here allow us to separately assess the effects of external hydrogen bond donors, acceptors, and the intrinsic ligand fields.

The structures and magnetism of a new family of 1D heterometallic complexes {Mn₂^IIILn₂^III}_n (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy) are described with the exchange parameters deduced for the Gd complex. Slow magnetisation reversal was noted for the Dy complex in the alternating current susceptibility data when measured in an applied direct current field.

Three new coordination frameworks, [Ru₂(O₂CR)₄][Au(CN)₂] (R = phenyl (1(Ph)), 2-furan (1(Furan)), and 2-thiophene (1(Thio)), are reported. Modulation of the one-dimensional chain structure, with resulting influence on the magnetic and electronic properties of these frameworks, has been achieved through systematic variation of the carboxylate ligands.

A new 6H-type perovskite Ba₃Fe₂SbO₉ has been synthesised. It has a partially disordered 6H-type perovskite structure which has been studied by synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction, and displays classical spin-glass behaviour as characterised by magnetic susceptibility, magnetisation, and heat capacity measurements.

The nitroxide radical complex [Mn^II(L^•)₂](ClO₄)₂, where L^• = 4-dimethyl-2,2-di(2-pyridyl)oxazolidine N-oxide, displays antiferromagnetic exchange between the Mn^II S = 5/2 centre and the two ligand S = 1/2 centres, yielding an S = 3/2 spin ground state. The electrochemical properties are interpreted in terms of square reaction schemes involving metal and ligand redox processes.

The structure and magnetic properties of an octanuclear iron(ii)-containing cage material of the type [Fe^II₈L₁₂](BF₄)₁₆ is reported.

Studies on biocatalysis in industry exploded during the last decade to solve the energy issue; however, the poor stability of enzymes hampers the development of this field. Recent investigations on enzyme immobilization on metal–organic frameworks show great potential to achieve a highly efficient catalytic system, where the covalent binding is of great significance.

Four different construction motifs of porphyrin-steroid conjugates are explored and shown in a composite depiction on a porphyrin divided into quadrants.

Benzothiazole and thiazolidinone derivatives are interesting compounds in the area of medicinal chemistry. In this paper, a series of novel benzothiazole-substituted 4-thiazolidinones were synthesised by the one-pot reaction of rhodanine-3-acetic acid derivatives, 2-aminothiophenol, and triphenylphosphite using nano silica-bonded 5-n-propyl-octahydro-pyrimido[1,2-a]azepinium chloride as heterogeneous reusable nanocatalyst under solvent-free conditions in high yields.

We have developed a diastereoselective synthesis of dispiro compounds through a one-pot domino pseudo-eight-component reaction of amines, aldehydes, and Meldrum’s acid. This method resulted in the generation of complex products with four stereocentres and involves formation of 10 new bonds.

Ionic liquid-derived polyelectrolyte gels with moderate hydrophobicity undergo a lower critical solution temperature-type dehydration behaviour.

Nanocrystalline Co₃O₄ has been synthesised from the inorganic precursor Co(cinnamate)₂(N₂H₄)₂ via the thermal decomposition route. Using appropriate annealing conditions, the precursor yielded cobalt oxide nanoparticles of average size ~11 nm. The nanoparticles were characterised for their size and structure using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopic, selected area electron diffraction and scanning electron microscopic techniques.

This paper describes two novel organic crystals showing non-porous and microporous structures, the formation of which can be precisely controlled by varying the reaction temperature.

It is important for the directional design and preparation of molecule-based functional materials to explore the self-assembly behaviour of reaction components. In the present research, it is reported that a series of reversible dissolution/reorganization equilibriums between the initial reactant with the final products 1–5 occur in aqueous systems, which were determined to be enthalpy/entropy driven chemical equilibriums by single crystal X-ray diffraction and microcalorimetry.

Two novel types of high-density phosphorus DOPO derivatives were designed, synthesised, and characterised. The compounds were used as flame retardant additives in Li-ion batteries for the first time. The high-density phosphorus DOPO compounds have good thermal stability, high char yields, and effective flame retardant properties.

Lignins from second-generation biorefinery.

A simply selective colorimetric assay for Al³⁺ based on the aggregation of silver nanoparticles functionalized with Alizarin Red S has been developed.

The expansion and collapse of surface-grafted zwitterionic polymer brushes in water caused by the addition of urea is demonstrated. We hypothesize that this is an effect of change in water structure causing change in solvation of the brushes and hence a change in the dipole–dipole interaction, and that it is analogous to the effects of urea on protein stability.